INTERVIEW: DEBORAH JACKSON

Long and Short Reviews welcomes Deborah Jackson, author of Ice Tomb, an adult science fiction thriller. Ice Tomb was first released in 2004, but just this February, after some revision and attempts to make it more kid-friendly, (although it’s still an adult book), it was released as an ebook. Ice Tomb takes readers on a journey through ice tunnels and snowscapes in Antarctica to the deadly environment on the moon. It involves the interplay of science and mythology–topics Deborah loves to tinker with. It is a Top Pick from RT BOOKclub Magazine which said, “Ice Tomb is set in the near future, and the science in the fiction is very plausible. A fast-paced story with plenty of twists, this book reads like a classic sci-fi tale. The characters are well drawn, the action plentiful and the outcome surprising.”

I asked Deborah what inspired her to write and she told me, “I don’t think anything inspires you to start writing. Either you’re a writer or you’re not. I started writing when I was six years old. I fell in love with stories: intriguing adventures that took place somewhere beyond my doorstep, tales of dragons or horses or the orphan lad Oliver. I fell out of writing when my alternate career consumed all the hours in my day. I fell back into it during maternity leave and eventually permanent leave from my job.”

Deborah works the same way as Ernest Hemingway and Stephen King, she shared with me.

“How’s that for polar opposites?” she asked. “But they both begin without a plot outline. I usually research my ideas until I have a decent concept of plot and characters, occasionally I write a character sketch or journal entry, but then I begin. The first chapter usually needs a series of rewrites, but once the characters start to breathe, they take over and drive the story forward, sometimes at a breathless pace.”

The storytelling itself is of utmost importance, she believes, combining all the elements into an “absolutely riveting tale.”

“It’s impossible to single out one or two components. I think editors are sometimes too focused on style and ignore the other elements of world building, character psychology, logical plot structure, believable dialogue, etc. If you can’t piece together a spellbinding story, then all the wordplay in your arsenal won’t be enough to captivate readers.”

“When writing physical descriptions of your characters, what feature do you start with?” I wondered.

“Writing descriptions of main characters? Seriously? I don’t believe in writing about physical features! I hate when an author slaps down physical features while ignoring the truly important aspects of a character. Their cockiness, their humour, their intensity, their marvelous quirks. I could care less what a person looks like if I can feel who they are through dialogue, mannerisms and behaviour. Maybe I’m the defiant author who thumbs her nose at conventional writing, but I will never start with physical features. If they’re important at some point, I’ll mention them.”

Deborah strives to create endearing, enduring, and unusual characters along with a unique setting in which to place them. She’s had fans of her YA series, Time Meddlers, tell her that they feel sad when they’ve finished reading a book because they have to say goodbye to the main characters until the next book and that they’ll actually miss them.

“That’s exactly what you want your readers to feel,” she said.

Her novels are also very complex—she explores unique time periods and cultures—and combines scientific near-future or speculative technology with a historical or mythical component.

“I don’t shy away from including nanotechnology, exploring a vast network of caves, or setting up a moon base,” she explained. “I usually go through stacks of archaeological reference books to make a historical setting seem authentic. If you work hard enough, that attention to detail will shine through in your writing.”

“What are the best and worst pieces of writing advice you ever received?” I asked.

“The best: Don’t write for the market. By the time your book has been revised and perfected, the market will have changed. Write what you’re passionate about.

“The worst: If an agent or editor tells you to change your manuscript, do it. They have more experience and they know better than you.

“After a number of years, and a number of critiques from editors and agents, I find they tend to contradict each other. One would prefer you focus on character, the other would like your novel to become the next bestseller to be converted into a blockbuster movie, and you’re taking too long to jump into the action. Yes, sometimes their advice is worth the extra rewrite, but you have to decide whether it’s going to change your novel into their vision, and if that’s really what you want. I can guarantee following their suggestions won’t guarantee a book will be published.”

Finally, I asked Deborah for her favorite TV shows.

“Big Bang Theory. Now who doesn’t love Sheldon, from a distance?

Grey’s Anatomy. You can take a girl out of the medical community, but you can’t take the fascination for medicine (and drama) out of the girl.

Firefly. The best science fiction series ever produced. I can watch it over and over again. Why? Because the character development is exceptional. Sci-fi western is a unique concept, but it always comes down to characters, doesn’t it?

House for the sarcasm and the unique character—an addicted genius. The puzzles are rather unbelievable and the repetition of this style getting stale, though.

Vampire Diaries (but don’t tell anyone). I do so love those sexy vampires, as long as they don’t sparkle and have somewhat of a complex character—Damon.”

About the Author:

Deborah Jackson received a science degree from the University of Ottawa in 1986, graduated from The Writing School in Ottawa in 2001, and is the author of several science fiction and historical fiction novels. She gives school presentations throughout North America as well as developing and teaching writing courses at the Shenkman Arts Centre. Deborah is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators and Speculative Fiction Canada. Her novels include: Ice Tomb, an adult science fiction thriller, and the Time Meddlers series for children, ages 9 – 14: Time Meddlers, Time Meddlers Undercover, and upcoming release Time Meddlers on the Nile . Articles about Deborah and reviews of her books have appeared in The Ottawa Citizen, MORE Magazine, The RT Bookclub Magazine, Canadian Teacher Magazine, SF Site, Neo-opsis Science Fiction Magazine and many more.

NASA lures volcanologist Erica Daniels to a conference in Houston by promising to consider her for their upcoming mission—establishing the first moon base. Instead, her archrival and ex-lover, David Marsh, gets the plum assignment, while she’s sent to Antarctica. An irritating British archaeologist and a brilliant Russian astrophysicist accompany her on a journey through unforgiving snowscapes, mysterious ice tunnels and a frozen graveyard. They present her with extraordinary suggestions for the origin of the hotspot. Along the way, Erica unearths scientific marvels that might just prove her own theory. But why is the ice sheet littered with bodies? Is the activity under the ice the remnants of an ancient civilization or is there a more sinister explanation? To discover the truth Erica will have to join forces with the man she despises—a man who’s on the moon.

The Last Prejudice

White Water

The Atomic City Girls

Heaven’s Watcher

My Favorite Mistake

Taking Desire

Needing Desire

Running Hot

Frost Moon

Blue Light Special

Review Star Rating Definitions

1 Star – We currently do not review any story with a 1 star rating. If it’s DNF or a “wall-banger” we decline to review.

2 Stars — Not wonderful, but tolerable. There may be some minor editing glitches but not enough to stop you reading. Not a wall-banger, but nothing you’d re-read. This is a book you would borrow from the library – not buy- and never check out again. You might recommend it to a friend with a mention of the glitches, knowing that something in the plot or story would still appeal to them regardless.

3 Stars — Good. Mostly enjoyable. You made it through and didn’t consider it a waste of time or money. The story was strong enough or the conflict tight enough, so even when the book faltered, it was able to draw you back in and keep you. There’s a chance you’ll recommend it to a friend, but it wouldn’t go on your keeper shelf.

4 Stars — Very Good. You’re glad you were the one who got to review the book. You would probably buy it and would definitely recommend it to your friends. You liked the characters and the plot. The writing style was good and the editing clean.

5 Stars — Great! You would definitely buy this book. You would definitely recommend it to your friends. You really loved the characters and the plot and would consider looking for this authors back list or making her an autobuy. The writing and editing were superb.

LASR Best Book – For a book or story that is truly exceptional. You think about it when you’re not reading it. You wonder what happens to the characters when you finish. You would absolutely buy everything else this author had to offer. The highest praise – and reserved for only a few.

Review Heat Level Descriptions

SWEET: no visual love scenes and no descriptive kissing;

SENSUAL: Contains a high degree of sexual tension, steamy kisses and passionate clinches, but all fully consummated love scenes will be implied, not described, and with the bedroom door firmly closed.

SPICY: Contains actual love scenes and may include detailed descriptions of foreplay and consummation.

HOT: Contains sizzling and very detailed love scenes throughout and graphic, explicit content which may be offensive to some.

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FTC Disclaimer:

Most books reviewed on this site have been provided free of charge by the publisher, author or publicist. On occasion, we review books we have purchased with our own money or borrowed from a public library. Any links to places to purchase books are provided as a convenience, and do not serve as an endorsement by this blog. All reviews are the true and honest opinion of the blogger reviewing the book. The method of acquiring the book does not have a bearing on the content of the review.